The Nibelungenlied - Anonymous

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      "They had there of their followers / twelve warriors keen,

       And strong they were as giants: / what booted giants e'en?

       Them slew straightway in anger / Siegfried's mighty hand,

       And warriors seven hundred / he felled in Nibelungenland

      95

      "With the sword full trusty, / Balmung that hight.

       Full many a youthful warrior / from terror at the sight

       Of that deadly weapon / swung by his mighty hand

       Did render up his castle / and pledge him fealty in the land.

      96

      "Thereto the kings so mighty, / them slew he both as well.

       But into gravest danger / through Alberich he fell,

       Who thought for his slain masters / vengeance to wreak straightway,

       Until the mighty Siegfried / his wrath with strong arm did stay.

      97

      "Nor could prevail against him / the Dwarf, howe'er he tried.

       E'en as two wild lions / they coursed the mountainside,

       Where he the sightless mantle[1] / from Alberich soon won. Then Siegfried, knight undaunted, / held the treasure for his own.

      98

      "Who then dared join the struggle, / all slain around they lay.

       Then he bade the treasure / to draw and bear away

       Thither whence 'twas taken / by the Nibelungen men.

       Alberich for his valor / was then appointed Chamberlain.

      99

      "An oath he had to swear him, / he'd serve him as his slave;

       To do all kinds of service / his willing pledge he gave"—

       Thus spake of Tronje Hagen—/ "That has the hero done;

       Might as great before him / was never in a warrior known.

      100

      "Still know I more about him, / that has to me been told.

       A dragon, wormlike monster, / slew once the hero bold.

       Then in its blood he bathed him, / since when his skin hath been

       So horn-hard, ne'er a weapon / can pierce it, as hath oft been seen.

      101

      "Let us the brave knight-errant / receive so courteously

       That we in nought shall merit / his hate, for strong is he.

       He is so keen of spirit / he must be treated fair:

       He has by his own valor / done many a deed of prowess rare."

      The monarch spake in wonder: / "In sooth thou tellest right.

       Now see how proudly yonder / he stands prepared for fight,

       He and his thanes together, / the hero wondrous keen!

       To greet him we'll go thither, / and let our fair intent be seen."

      "That canst thou," out spake Hagen, / "well in honor do.

       He is of noble kindred, / a high king's son thereto.

       'Tis seen in all his bearing; / meseems in truth, God wot,

       The tale is worth the hearing / that this bold knight has hither brought."

      104

      Then spake the mighty monarch: / "Be he right welcome here.

       Keen is he and noble, / of fame known far and near.

       So shall he be fair treated / in the land of Burgundy."

       Down then went King Gunther, / and Siegfried with his men found he.

      105

      The king and his knights with him / received so well the guest,

       That the hearty greeting / did their good will attest.

       Thereat in turn the stranger / in reverence bowed low,

       That in their welcome to him / they did such courtesy bestow.

      106

      "To me it is a wonder," / straightway spake the host,

       "From whence, O noble Siegfried, / come to our land thou dost,

       Or what here thou seekest / at Worms upon the Rhine."

       Him the stranger answered: / "Put thou away all doubts of thine.

      107

      "I oft have heard the tiding / within my sire's domain,

       How at thy court resided /—and know this would I fain—

       Knights, of all the keenest, /—'tis often told me so—

       That e'er a monarch boasted: / now come I hither this to know.

      108

      "Thyself have I heard also / high praised for knightly worth;

       'Tis said a nobler monarch / ne'er lived in all the earth.

       Thus speak of thee the people / in all the lands around.

       Nor will I e'er give over / until in this the truth I've found.

      109

      "I too am warrior noble / and born to wear a crown;

       So would I right gladly / that thou of me shouldst own

       That I of right am master / o'er people and o'er land.

       Of this shall now my honor / and eke my head as pledges stand.

      110

      "And art thou then so valiant / as hath to me been told,

       I reck not, will he nill he / thy best warrior bold,

       I'll wrest from thee in combat / whatever thou may'st have;

       Thy lands and all thy castles / shall naught from change of masters save."

      111

      The king was seized with wonder / and all his men beside,

       To see the manner haughty / in which the knight replied

       That he was fully minded / to take from him his land.

       It chafed his thanes to hear it, / who soon in raging mood did stand.

      112

      "How could it be my fortune," / Gunther the king outspoke,

       "What my sire long ruled over / in honor for his folk,

       Now to lose so basely / through any vaunter's might?

       In sooth 'twere nobly showing / that we too merit name of knight!"

      113

      "Nowise will I give over," / was the keen reply.

       "If peace through thine own valor / thy land cannot enjoy,

       To me shall all be subject: / if heritage of mine

       Through thy arm's might thou winnest, / of right shall all hence-forth be thine.

      114

      "Thy land and all that mine is, / at stake shall equal lie.

       Whiche'er of us be victor / when now our strength we try,

       To him shall all be subject, / the folk and eke the land."

      

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